Uganda moves to strengthen fisheries management
Uganda’s fisheries sector plays an indispensable role in food security, employment, exports and income generation
KAMPALA, August 23, 2026 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] has unveiled new Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations under the 2023 Act aimed at rebuilding fish stocks and promoting sustainable harvesting.
Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday, State Minister for Fisheries Robert Migadde Ndugwa said the regulations introduce stricter licensing requirements, standardised fishing gear, protected breeding areas, closed seasons, quality assurance measures, aquaculture guidelines and a strengthened monitoring, control and surveillance unit.
He called on fishers, local governments, civil society organisations and the private sector to support the implementation of the reforms in fishing communities across Uganda.
Ndugwa said all fishers are required to apply for species-specific licences by September 15, 2026, after which enforcement against illegal fishing activities and capacity will begin.
“Uganda is blessed with vast freshwater resources that support a rich diversity of fish species and a growing aquaculture sector,” he said, noting that the fisheries sector supports more than one million livelihoods and generates significant export revenue.
Uganda’s fisheries sector plays an indispensable role in food security, employment, exports and income generation. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the value of Uganda’s fish exports increased from US$155.20 million in the 2023/24 financial year to US$ 216.42mln in FY2024/25, making fisheries one of the country’s top export earners.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS], the sector contributed 2.0 per cent to GDP and 7.8 per cent of agricultural GDP in FY2024/25.
FAOSTAT data shows that fish consumption per capita in Uganda stood at 15.4 kilogrammes in 2023, meaning fish accounts for more than half of total animal protein intake in the average Ugandan diet.
However, the traditional economic engine of the sub-sector — capture fisheries — has reached an ecological ceiling. Rising demand for fish, driven by population growth, coupled with chronic overfishing and environmental degradation, has severely depleted wild fish stocks in Uganda’s natural water bodies.
As a result, the future of Uganda’s fisheries sector is increasingly shifting towards aquaculture as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on wild capture fisheries while meeting growing demand for fish.
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